British mother, Nazanin Ratcliffe, held prisoner in Iran 'allowed to see daughter and parents'

The British mother held prisoner in Iran has been allowed to see her parents and her infant daughter for the first time since her arrest.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, 37, was allowed out of solitary confinement for over two hours on Wednesday.

She was taken from prison to a hotel in the city of Kerman, 600 miles south-east of Tehran, where she was permitted to have lunch with her parents and see her daughter, Gabriella, who is 22 months old.

Mrs Ratcliffe’s British husband, Richard, said that he was “grateful to the Iranian authorities” for the visit. He added that Mrs Ratcliffe was “able to hold and play with Gabriella for a visit of more than two hours".

Gabriella was given a doll by the authorities. "They had a chance where they could have lunch together and where Nazanin could play with Gabriella," said Mr Ratcliffe.

Richard Ratcliffe described the fact that the authorities kept their pledge as “very definitely a good day”.

Mrs Ratcliffe has not been charged with any offence, nor has she been allowed a lawyer. In an earlier phone conversation with her parents, she said that her case relates to “national security”. When she met her parents on Wednesday, the authorities said the "investigation was almost complete," according to Mr Ratcliffe.